'Damal' witnesses houseful shows on first day

‘Poran’ famed filmmaker Raihan Rafi’s immensely hyped film ‘Damal’ finally hit Bangladeshi theatres yesterday. Recent media reports suggested that most advance tickets for the opening day were sold out and team ‘Damal’ witnessed the houseful shows with the audience.

The audience is already posting positive reviews about the film online in various Bangladeshi film enthusiasts’ groups on Facebook.

A fan named Abrar Neil Adam wrote in the group Bangla Chalacitra, “Siam and Sariful Razz’s performance was impeccable. Brilliant cinematography, colour grading and VFX. The other cast members also did exceptionally well. Three songs in the first half of the film were a bit too much but overall, an incredible film based on the Liberation War and football.”

Internationally acclaimed Bangladeshi actor Mostafa Monwar also watched the film’s first show and wrote on his Facebook, “Absolutely loved the movie ‘Damal’. Its highly engaging, entertaining and inspiring!”

Another netizen named Habibur Rahman Khan Arif stated that ‘Damal’ is even better than Rafi’s ‘Poran’ and audience will hopefully enjoy it in the theatres.

The film’s cast and crew started their promotional run by attending the legendary Madhumita cinema hall’s first show at 10am which was almost houseful. During their visit to Madhumita, the film’s central cast member Siam Ahmed told the press, “Whenever my film comes out, I receive a unique kind of love and support from my fans. Their support motivates me to move forward.”

Later on, they visited the Star Cineplex branches at Bashundhara City and Mirpur’s Sony Square where all the shows were houseful and the audience cheered and praised the makers.

The film’s director Raihan Rafi told the press, “‘Damal’ is released in 22 theatres across the country this Friday. It will run all over the country very soon.”

Bidya Sinha Saha Mim, another central character of the film, said, “My newest film ‘Damal’ portrays the story of a football team during the Liberation War of Bangladesh, and I appeared as a simple yet flamboyant village girl named Hasna. The experience was challenging like my every other film, and the audience will be the one to demonstrate whether my efforts were praiseworthy or not.”

Produced by Impress Telefilm Ltd, the film stars Siam Ahmed, Sariful Raaz, Bidya Sinha Mim, Sumit Sen Gupta, Shahnaz Sumi, Intekhab Dinar, and others.

Inspired by true events, the storyline of ‘Damal’ was conceptualized by the film’s producer Faridur Reza Sagar, managing director of Impress Telefilm Ltd and Channel i.

The film’s director Raihan Rafi and famous Bangladeshi author Nazim Ud Daula have paired to develop its screenplay.

‘Damal’ hopes to showcase some of the historical chain of events by the legendary Shadhin Bangla Football team.

Formed in June 1971, the Bangladeshi football team played a total of 16 matches in different locations, earning a total of Tk 5 lakh at that time. The team decided to donate this amount to the Liberation War efforts.

After more than a 100-day-long blockbuster run of Rafi’s last film ‘Poran’, Bangladeshi film enthusiasts are rushing to see his latest venture ‘Damal’.